Africa has abundant gas reserves, and these rich reserves offer immediate solutions to the continent’s immediate and prevailing challenges if well leveraged.
The Chief Executive Officer, Seplat energy Plc, Mr. Roger Brown, said this during the ongoing Africa Oil Week (AOW) Conference and Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Seplat Energy CEO, whilst delivering the independent Keynote during the AOW Gas Forum themed ‘Enhancing Africa’s Gas Capacity’, stated that gas will provide baseload power to facilitate growth in renewable energy which is still a relatively small proportion of the energy mix in Africa.
To decarbonize, he maintained that the world needed to move away from coal as a primary source of electricity. “Gas will play a critical role in moving away from reliance on coal and oil for electricity,” Brown said.
The Seplat CEO added: “Messages are mixed, but it is vital that providers of capital see gas as an essential fuel source for Africa. Africa’s abundant gas reserves offer immediate solutions to immediate problems. There is therefore significant gas to deliver widespread electrification in Africa increasing the per capita electricity consumption.
“Africa’s development will require significant improvements in access to energy. Lower-cost, more reliable energy will drive job creation, prosperity and development. Gas can support achievement of many United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its role in reducing costs, increasing energy access and increasing prosperity.”
According to Brown, bottled gas could avoid nearly half a million deaths due to biomass cooking, as well as protect habitats from deforestation. “Natural gas is a cheap and immediate input for fertilizers needed to support large-scale agriculture. Gas is essential for basic infrastructure, as no commercially viable, low-carbon alternatives are anywhere near ready for cement, steel and glass production.”